More than 500 children per day in England are being referred to NHS mental health services for anxiety, more than double the rate before the pandemic. Official figures show a dramatic increase in anxiety referrals for patients aged 17 and under, with 204,526 new referrals in 2023-24 compared to 98,953 in 2019-20. Experts attribute the rise to factors like academic pressures, social media influence, cyberbullying, poverty, and the cost of living crisis.
Health officials and leaders express concern over the surge in anxiety referrals, noting that the capacity of the health service is strained, resulting in long waiting lists for treatment. The pandemic has exacerbated existing pressures on children, leading to further mental health challenges. Mental health leaders fear that the actual number of children experiencing anxiety may be higher than reported due to underreporting.
Experts emphasize the urgent need to address children’s mental health, with calls for a comprehensive plan to tackle the underlying causes of the rise in anxiety. Mental health services are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for anxiety treatment, resulting in lengthy waiting times that can worsen children’s conditions. Recommendations include government intervention to reduce waiting times and expand mental health support in schools and communities.
NHS England is expanding services to treat more children and young people, including the rollout of mental health teams in schools. Parents and guardians concerned about their child’s mental health are encouraged to seek help via the Every Mind Matters website or through their GP. The Department of Health and Social Care plans to provide specialist mental health support in every school and establish walk-in mental health hubs in every community to address the growing mental health crisis in children.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
